Most aviation facilities don’t have the luxury of unlimited space for operations. No matter how large an airport is, there is a balance that must be met between open spaces for operations and enclosed areas for maintenance. Temporary airplane hangars can solve many of the airport space problems.

Open space is needed for the movement of planes and equipment to ensure that loading of cargo and passengers is handled in a safe and efficient manner. Runways, staging areas and terminal spaces are obviously necessary parts of an airport. Often, hanger and maintenance space is squeezed in like an afterthought into limited space.

Traditional aircraft hangars are large, open buildings that include support facilities for maintaining aircraft and office space for workers and management. The inefficiency of this type of building – combining open spaces for aircraft storage with smaller spaces used for storage and administrative purposes – highlights the uses of temporary airplane hangars.

What are temporary airplane hangars?

To meet the changing needs of aircraft operations, hangars can now be constructed from fabric stretched over a strong, rigid frame. The frame is strong enough to support attaching maintenance and firefighting gear, yet the fabric covering is light and durable. The entire structure can be set up in a fraction of the time it takes to build a permanent hangar facility.

Unlike a traditional hangar, a fabric aircraft hangar can usually be completed within days, rather than weeks or even months

From our article, What Advantages can you expect from a Fabric Aircraft Hangar? Read the complete article here.

The cost of these structures is also a fraction of what it would cost to build a permanent building. Temporary airplane hangars are constructed from a standardized plan that keeps the costs lower, but also allows flexibility in design.

Fabric structures are tough enough for special uses or to hold specialized equipment, such as painting facilities. Since they are modular, options can be added or incorporated into the hangar depending on the needs of the user. These add-ons can include lengthening the hanger, office installations, and even installations of shower and toiletry areas.

Temporary airplane hangars are easy to take down, set up, and are portable. This makes them ideal for rapidly expanding aircraft facilities.

Why are Aviation Facilities Changing?

Constructed out of specialized fabric, temporary airplane hangars highlight many of the changes in the aviation industry. As technology improves and aircraft designs changes, the limitations of older hangars becomes more apparent. A permanent hangar that could hold the largest aircraft two decades ago would struggle to fit a newer Airbus A380 or the Boeing B747-8, for example.

The size of the aircraft is not the only part of the aviation industry that is changing. Improved, portable maintenance equipment can be moved to the aircraft versus moving the aircraft to the maintenance equipment. This equipment can easily be moved from one temporary structure to another, or all stored inside a single fabric structure.

Other Considerations

Technology continues its drive to the future. A building built just ten years ago, to the highest safety and efficiency standards, is outdated today. Improvements in construction, material and energy efficiency add to the appeal of temporary airplane hangars.

Building materials, today, are much more efficient at cooling and heating spaces. Large, open buildings can benefit from a combination of fiberglass covering and energy-efficient heating systems.

Firefighting is a major concern for aviation facilities. As firefighting methods change and are improved, the need for large volumes of water is being reduced. Firefighting foam that is more effective on fires that break out on aircraft has the benefit of leaving less toxic residue. Chemical firefighting methods are also easier to use with temporary structures, since they don’t require the massive plumbing logistics of decades past.

The fabric that Allsite Structure Rentals uses for temporary aircraft hangars is approved by the California State Fire Marshall as a registered flame resistant product per California Health & Safety code.

The Final Word

Temporary airplane hangars are becoming a more common site at airports, aircraft construction facilities, military bases, and other aviation facilities. These structures are as functionally capable as their permanent counterparts, and are also more modular and less expensive!